Gaff-tongs.



W. L. MARBLE. GAFF Toms. APPL IOATION FILED 51111116, 1911.

1 ,018,065. Patented Feb. 20, 1912 WITNESSES Won COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH Cu.. WASHINGTON. 154 c.

WEBSTER L. MARBLE, 0F GLADSTONE, MICHIGAN.

GAFF-TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application filed June 5, 1911. Serial No. 631.487.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vnnsrnn L. MARBLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gladstone, in the county of Delta and State of Michigan, have invented new-and useful Improvements in Gafi-Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to appliances used by fishermen, and its object is to provide a simple and efficient substitute for the ordinary gaff hook for landing fish. I am aware that it has been heretofore proposed to employ for this purpose a pair of jaws pivoted to a handle and connected to an operating rod by means of which said jaws can be closed upon a fish.

My invention has reference to this general type of gafi tongs, but I have simplified the construction so as to furnish a light, strong and inexpensive device, which can be easily packed for transportation and occupies little space; all as hereinafter set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gaff tongs, showing the jaws open. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the jaws closed. Fig. 3 is an edge View, and Fig. 41 is a sectional detail, showing the lock for retaining the jaws in their closed position.

The frame of the tongs is composed of a flat strip of metal bent to form an open hilt having preferably parallel sides 1 and a transverse handle 2. The converging lower ends of the hilt are connected by a cross bar 3 riveted to them. Below this cross bar the side members 4 of the frame extend substantially parallel, diverging somewhat at their lower ends. The jaws 5 are made of stout flat bars, and are L-shaped, being pivoted at or near the elbow to the ends of the side members 4: of the frame. The shorter arms of these L-shaped jaws are pivoted to a fork 6 at the lower end of a flat rod 7 which passes up through a slot in the cross bar 3 and is provided inside the hilt with a transverse handle 8, preferably formed by bending the rod into a loop, as shown. This handle is inclosed within the hilt, and can be moved up and down therein to actuate the jaws and cause them to open and close, as desired; an upward movement of the rod pulling up the ends of the short arms thereof and closing the longer arms upon any object between them. The jaws are preferably provided with teeth 9 on their inner edges to give them a firm hold upon the fish.

WVhen left to themselves the jaws are held normally open by a spring 10 coiled around the rod 7 and abutting at one end against the cross bar 3 and at the other end against a transverse pin 11 fixed in the rod. When the handle 8 is pulled up to close the jaws, this spring is compressed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it will re-open the, jaws when the handle is released.

In order to lock the jaws in their closed position, so that the device will be more compact for packing and transportation. the pin is provided with a head 12 adapted to pass through the large end of a key-hole slot 13 in one of the side members of the frame. This can be easily effected by de fleeting the rod 7 laterally, as indicated in Fig. 4, where the dotted lines show the normal position of said rod, and the full lines show it after it has been sprung sidewise to cause the head of the pin to enter the slot 13. The pressure of the spring will keep the head 12 engaged in the lower and narrow part of the slot, so that the parts will be held in the position shown in Fig. 2. A slight pull on the handle 8 will lift the pin to the upper part of the slot, in which position the resilience of the rod will disengage said pin and return the rod to its central position, capable of free movement by the operator. The device is light, and can be easily operated by one hand, the transverse handle 2 being rested against the palm of the hand while the fingers grasp the handle 8. The jaws 5 are located.in different planes, as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will slide past each other, and permit the operator to contract the opening between them to accommodate the size of the fish that is being taken. The resilience of the flat side members 4 permits their lower ends to approach and separate freely, as the jaws are manipulated, thereby avoiding the necessity of any slotted connections between them and said jaws or between the aws and the actuating rod.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1

1. Gaff tongs comprising a frame composed of a strip of metal forming an open hilt at one end and having resilient side members, L-shaped jaws pivoted to the ends of said side members, an actuating rod pivoted to the inner arms of said jaws and extending up into said hilt and a spring encircling said rod and tending to urge said aws open.

2. Gaff tongs comprising a frame composed of a strip of metal forming a hilt at one end and having resilient side members, jaws pivoted to said side members, an actuating rod pivoted to said aws and provided with a transverse pin, a spring urging said jaws open, and a lock for arresting the movement of said rod to hold said aws closed.

3. Gaff tongs comprising a frame having side members one of which contains a keyhole slot, jaws pivoted to said side members, an actuating rod pivoted to said jaws, and a transverse pin in said rod adapted to engage with said slot.

4;. Gaff tongs comprising a frame having a hilt provided with a handle 2 at one end, and having resilient side members 4, connected by a cross bar 3, toothed jaws 5 pivoted to said side members, a rod 7 pivoted to said jaws and extending up into said hilt and having a handle 8 therein, a transverse pin 11 in said rod, and a spring 10 encircling said rod and abutting against the cross bar 3 and the pin 11.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WEBSTER L. MARBLE.

Witnesses DELBERT J. CALDER, CLAUDE E. HAWKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

